Ming Li righteously condemned Ms. Ming’s attempt at “selling off her daughter,” but Ms. Ming only smiled at her. Waiting for her to finish, her mother simply asked, “Finished? Have the potatoes been peeled yet? I’m going to be busy.”
With that, she slipped back into the kitchen like a puff of smoke.
Ming Li stood there stunned for a moment before laughing helplessly.
The current Ms. Ming was incredibly slick; she no longer handled interpersonal matters with the same timid caution she once had. Ming Li loved this version of her mother, yet it brought its own set of headaches—like her mother taking it upon herself to invite Luo Chaoxue over for dinner.
Living right across the hall, bringing dishes over wasn’t exactly a chore. Luo Chaoxue hadn’t made many: just a plate of stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and another of shredded potatoes. Both were the most basic of home-cooked staples.
Ming Li’s own dishes were far from ready for the wok. She asked Luo Chaoxue to set her plates on the table and sit in the living room for a bit. After a few brief pleasantries, Ming Li went into the kitchen to chase Ms. Ming out to socialize.
Ms. Ming was reluctant. “She clearly only wants to talk to you. Why should I go out there?”
“Then what can you do in here?” Ming Li countered. “Are you planning to showcase your culinary skills?”
Ms. Ming fell silent. After a moment, she set her tools down on the counter. “In the future, I will definitely practice my cooking until I can stun you all.”
Ming Li flashed an “OK” gesture with a smile. “I’ll be waiting.”
Like a defeated hen, Ms. Ming left the kitchen dejectedly. However, the moment she stepped out, she put on a bright smile and brought some fruit to Luo Chaoxue.
Ming Li didn’t bother listening to their conversation, focusing instead on the work in the kitchen.
When Ming Xi returned home and saw Luo Chaoxue sitting on the sofa, she froze for two seconds before backing out of the door to check the room number. Ms. Ming called out to her, “You’re at the right house.”
Ming Xi smiled and greeted Luo Chaoxue, teasingly adding, “What a rare guest.”
“We should visit more often in the future,” Ms. Ming said, handing an orange she had meticulously peeled—removing every bit of the white pith—to Luo Chaoxue. “A girl living alone is bound to run into inconveniences. Feel free to bother us whenever you need.”
“It’s fine,” Luo Chaoxue said, feeling a bit bashful and somewhat overwhelmed by Ms. Ming’s enthusiasm. She gave a shy smile. “I’m used to it.”
“It doesn’t matter, neighbors should help each other,” Ms. Ming insisted, then began chatting about the previous neighbor who lived across the hall and how good their relationship had been.
Luo Chaoxue hadn’t been very familiar with that landlord, as her rental had been handled entirely by the real estate agent. Now, listening to Ms. Ming, she simply nodded along, looking incredibly well-behaved.
Seeing she couldn’t get a word in, Ming Xi slipped into the kitchen to find Ming Li and ask what was for dinner.
Ming Li asked why she wasn’t out there chatting. Ming Xi curled her lip. “Mom has practically forgotten who her own daughter is. The way she’s acting toward Sister Luo is practically… sycophantic.”
Ming Li was amused by the choice of words. “Is it really that bad?”
“You didn’t see it. Mom even peeled her orange and removed every single string of pith,” Ming Xi complained. “When have we ever received that kind of treatment?”
“Maybe it’s because she’s Mom’s ‘Big Client’ at the supermarket,” Ming Li suggested.
Ming Xi clicked her tongue. “Our Ms. Ming has certainly mastered the art of social maneuvering.”
While the two in the living room chatted warmly, the kitchen was a whirlwind of activity.
As the evening lights began to glow across the city, Ming Xi carried the dishes to the table one by one: Steamed Sea Bass, Braised Chicken Wings, Spicy Crispy Shrimp, Kung Pao Chicken, Stir-fried Seasonal Greens, and finally, a “Pearl Emerald White Jade Soup.”
In reality, it was just cabbage and tofu soup, garnished with a sprinkle of green onions before serving. Ming Li had originally intended to make tomato and egg soup, but since Luo Chaoxue had brought that exact dish, she had made the switch at the last minute.
As the dishes were laid out, Luo Chaoxue’s eyes grew wider and wider.
Once everything was set and Ming Xi was taking photos, Luo Chaoxue looked at her two meager plates placed right in the center of the spread. She felt an overwhelming urge to stand up, shove them in her pockets, and bolt.
Why did I bring these over? Isn’t this just asking for humiliation?
Luo Chaoxue was flushed with embarrassment. Once they sat down, she rolled up her sleeves, intending to move her two dishes to the corner. However, Ms. Ming stopped her. “I’ve tasted A-Li’s cooking plenty of times. This time, I primarily want to try yours.”
“Auntie, there’s really no need. I just…” Luo Chaoxue had been practicing hard at home recently, finally managing to produce shredded potatoes that weren’t burnt and tomato eggs that tasted decent. She had wanted to fulfill her promise of treating Ming Li to her cooking.
She hadn’t expected this. Facing such a feast, Luo Chaoxue found herself at a loss for words. Her two dishes weren’t exactly bad, but she didn’t have the face to call them good in this company.
After a moment of hesitation, she whispered, “Auntie, how about I make you something better next time?”
“Sure,” Ms. Ming agreed readily. “Next time I’m off work, let’s have a little cook-off. You’ll see that you’re already doing a great job.”
Luo Chaoxue: “…”
“Let’s eat.” Ming Li took off her apron, set it aside, and gestured for Ming Xi to grab the drinks before taking her seat.
Ms. Ming pulled the embarrassed Luo Chaoxue over to sit directly opposite Ming Li. Ming Li glanced at her mother but said nothing.
Ming Xi sat down to liven up the atmosphere, pouring drinks for everyone and distributing the utensils. “Eat, eat! Sister Luo, don’t be shy.”
Luo Chaoxue wasn’t being shy; if she were, she wouldn’t have brought her own food. Her intention was to get closer to the Ming family. Whether it was the smiling Ms. Ming she encountered at the supermarket, the poised and polite Ming Li, or the bright and lively Ming Xi—she felt a strong desire to befriend them all.
